A spokesman for the borough council said: “If successful, a Part 55 court order will enable eviction and protect the land from future encampments for a period of three months following the serving of the order.

“This order is similar to the previous processes order but it is aimed at the land and not the individuals on the land.

“This move is due to the fact that traveller numbers and frequency of unauthorised encampments have increased.”

The move by the council comes as around 40 caravans set up on the football pitches opposite Pingles Leisure Centre, in Avenue Road.

They were handed a notice to leave last week.

There have also been illegal camps recently at the Jubilee Sports Centre and in Tavistock Way and Queen Elizabeth Road.